Newburyport High School
Encyclopedia
Newburyport High School (NHS) is a public high school
serving students in ninth
through twelfth
grades in Newburyport, Massachusetts
and is part of the Newburyport Public School System. It was established in 1831 and is one of the oldest public schools in the United States of America.
The current building, designed by architect Edwin Dodge
, occupies the previous Mount Rural on High Street. The school has been renovated a number of times, with the most recent renovations completed some time around 2003. Today it is a valiant looking building with an entrance. The hill continues to descend to the river. The slope supports a residential area of colonial and nineteenth century buildings in good repair.
The school colors are "crimson and olde gold" as stated in the student handbook, The Clipper's Compass. ; the emblem is a clipper ship. There is a song and a flag. The school has a student government and athletic programs, as well as an award winning drama program.
Concerning accreditation the handbook says: "Newburyport High School is an accredited member of the New England Association of Schools and Colleges and has met the evaluation requirements of the Commission on Public Secondary Schools."
The current site of Newburyport High School was purchased from Harvard University
early in the 20th century. Newburyport High School is one of the oldest public high schools in the United States.
Color Day: A major class competition and football rally between each grade at Newburyport High School. Each class has a specific duty to perform, the Freshmen Class presents an original cheer, the Sophomore Class presents the traditional "Poster Parade", the Junior Class present an original song, and the Senior Class performs an original skit. Furthermore, each class must decorate a certain part of the auditorium and dress up in school colors. The class that best exempifies these traits, as well as demonstrating the best school spirit is named "the Winner of Color Day" and awarded the "Color Day Jug". Color Day traditionally takes place on the Wednesday before American Thanksgiving
Senior Week: Usually the first week in march, Senior week is the week preceding the graduation of the Senior Class. There are a number of traditional activities that are planned by the Class Officers during this week. Which include
Senior Trip: An entire class event designed to bring the graduating class together while being far from home
Vespers: A solemn (formerly religious) ceremony featuring speeches by a number of students revolving around a central theme.
Ivy Day: Newport High School's oldest tradition, where the exiting Senior Class plants a sprig of ivy next to the school to symbolize their time as students. The silver trowel used to plant the ivy is then passed to the reigning Junior Class President, who accepts it on behalf of his/her class and adorns the trowels with ribbons in their class colors. The Class of 2012 currently holds the trowel.
Senior Banquet: Usually at a restaurant in Boston, this is when the yearbook (En-Aitch-Ass) is presented to the Senior Class, and copies are signed by students.
Senior Prom: A dance following the promenade of students on the front steps of the school. Did you really need an explanation as to what Prom is?
Senior Sing out: The culmination of the Class Historians' work throughout the four years of at NHS, it is a forty-five minute multimedia presentation (predominantly a slideshow) featuring pictures of the class dating back to kindergarten.
Graduation: Featuring student/upper level staff speeches, as well as the conferring of diplomas by the Mayor of the City of Newburyport.
Senior Celebration: A tradition dating back to 1989, parents work together to produce an all-night substance free celebration for graduates which often takes them to various locals around the state, capping off the Senior Week activities.
Class Organizational System: Newburyport High School relies on the four respective class governments as a primary source of student leadership, each class consists of one faculty class advisor and five elected class officers, a President, Vice-President, Secretary, Treasurer, and Historian. Although generally divided as a result of age differences, these groups occasionally coordinate entire school events.
The current Class Presidents are
Chuck Testa: Senior Class President
Field Day: Occurs in early June, organized by the faculty, and features a number of popular games, entertainment, and a dance the same night.
Spirit Council: A group made up of all class officers, team captains, and one member of each club, the council is a new initiative designed by students to restore a sense of school pride and enthusiasm. Although a relatively new club, it exerts minute, to the point of practically nonexistent, pull under the narcissistic guidance of Senior Class President Charles Testa.
High school
High school is a term used in parts of the English speaking world to describe institutions which provide all or part of secondary education. The term is often incorporated into the name of such institutions....
serving students in ninth
Ninth grade
Ninth grade is the ninth post-kindergarten year of school education in some school systems. The students are 13 to 15 years of age, depending on when their birthday occurs. Depending on the school district, ninth grade is usually the first year of high school....
through twelfth
Twelfth grade
Twelfth grade or Senior year, or Grade Twelve, are the North American names for the final year of secondary school. In most countries students then graduate at age 17 or 18. In some countries, there is a thirteenth grade, while other countries do not have a 12th grade/year at all...
grades in Newburyport, Massachusetts
Newburyport, Massachusetts
Newburyport is a small coastal city in Essex County, Massachusetts, United States, 35 miles northeast of Boston. The population was 21,189 at the 2000 census. A historic seaport with a vibrant tourism industry, Newburyport includes part of Plum Island...
and is part of the Newburyport Public School System. It was established in 1831 and is one of the oldest public schools in the United States of America.
History
In 1868, the Latin and English High School (1831), later called the Brown High School (1851); the Putnam Free School (1848); and the Female High School (1843) merged to formed the Consolidated High and Putnam School. In 1889, the name changed to Newburyport High School.The current building, designed by architect Edwin Dodge
Edwin Dodge
- Personal background :Dodge was born into a wealthy family of Newburyport, Massachusetts, the son of the manufacturer Elisha Perkins Dodge. He trained as an architect at MIT, graduating in 1897. In 1902, he graduated from the Ecole des Beaux-Arts in Paris....
, occupies the previous Mount Rural on High Street. The school has been renovated a number of times, with the most recent renovations completed some time around 2003. Today it is a valiant looking building with an entrance. The hill continues to descend to the river. The slope supports a residential area of colonial and nineteenth century buildings in good repair.
The school colors are "crimson and olde gold" as stated in the student handbook, The Clipper's Compass. ; the emblem is a clipper ship. There is a song and a flag. The school has a student government and athletic programs, as well as an award winning drama program.
Concerning accreditation the handbook says: "Newburyport High School is an accredited member of the New England Association of Schools and Colleges and has met the evaluation requirements of the Commission on Public Secondary Schools."
The current site of Newburyport High School was purchased from Harvard University
Harvard University
Harvard University is a private Ivy League university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States, established in 1636 by the Massachusetts legislature. Harvard is the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States and the first corporation chartered in the country...
early in the 20th century. Newburyport High School is one of the oldest public high schools in the United States.
Athletics
Newburyport High School competes in the Cape Ann League in several interscholastic sports.School Traditions and Major Organizations
NewBURYport High School has many traditions, all outlined in the school's rulebook, the Clipper's Compass. Among these traditions are:Color Day: A major class competition and football rally between each grade at Newburyport High School. Each class has a specific duty to perform, the Freshmen Class presents an original cheer, the Sophomore Class presents the traditional "Poster Parade", the Junior Class present an original song, and the Senior Class performs an original skit. Furthermore, each class must decorate a certain part of the auditorium and dress up in school colors. The class that best exempifies these traits, as well as demonstrating the best school spirit is named "the Winner of Color Day" and awarded the "Color Day Jug". Color Day traditionally takes place on the Wednesday before American Thanksgiving
Senior Week: Usually the first week in march, Senior week is the week preceding the graduation of the Senior Class. There are a number of traditional activities that are planned by the Class Officers during this week. Which include
Senior Trip: An entire class event designed to bring the graduating class together while being far from home
Vespers: A solemn (formerly religious) ceremony featuring speeches by a number of students revolving around a central theme.
Ivy Day: Newport High School's oldest tradition, where the exiting Senior Class plants a sprig of ivy next to the school to symbolize their time as students. The silver trowel used to plant the ivy is then passed to the reigning Junior Class President, who accepts it on behalf of his/her class and adorns the trowels with ribbons in their class colors. The Class of 2012 currently holds the trowel.
Senior Banquet: Usually at a restaurant in Boston, this is when the yearbook (En-Aitch-Ass) is presented to the Senior Class, and copies are signed by students.
Senior Prom: A dance following the promenade of students on the front steps of the school. Did you really need an explanation as to what Prom is?
Senior Sing out: The culmination of the Class Historians' work throughout the four years of at NHS, it is a forty-five minute multimedia presentation (predominantly a slideshow) featuring pictures of the class dating back to kindergarten.
Graduation: Featuring student/upper level staff speeches, as well as the conferring of diplomas by the Mayor of the City of Newburyport.
Senior Celebration: A tradition dating back to 1989, parents work together to produce an all-night substance free celebration for graduates which often takes them to various locals around the state, capping off the Senior Week activities.
Class Organizational System: Newburyport High School relies on the four respective class governments as a primary source of student leadership, each class consists of one faculty class advisor and five elected class officers, a President, Vice-President, Secretary, Treasurer, and Historian. Although generally divided as a result of age differences, these groups occasionally coordinate entire school events.
The current Class Presidents are
Chuck Testa: Senior Class President
Field Day: Occurs in early June, organized by the faculty, and features a number of popular games, entertainment, and a dance the same night.
Spirit Council: A group made up of all class officers, team captains, and one member of each club, the council is a new initiative designed by students to restore a sense of school pride and enthusiasm. Although a relatively new club, it exerts minute, to the point of practically nonexistent, pull under the narcissistic guidance of Senior Class President Charles Testa.